Begonia plant named ‘KRBELYF02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRBELYF02’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with random and numerous greyed green to grey-colored spots and speckles; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRBELYF02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRBELYF02’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Begonia plants with unique and attractive leaf coloration.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identified as code number 98B172-A, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identified as code number 99B-20, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by leaf cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since April, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KRBELYF02’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRBELYF02’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves with random and numerous greyed         green to grey-colored spots and speckles.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection have leaves with less intensely-colored spots and speckles than leaves of plants of the new Begonia. In addition, plants of the new Begonia are more dense than and not as open as plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have green purple-colored leaves with white-colored spots and speckles.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia hybrida ‘Arctic Breeze’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed primarily from plants of ‘Arctic Breeze’ in leaf size and color as plants of ‘Arctic Breeze’ had smaller leaves that were darker in color and had distinct dark green-colored venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KRBELYF02’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close up view of the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘KRBELYF02’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia hybrida ‘KRBELYF02’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             hybrida identified as code number 98B172-A, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             hybrida identified as code number 99B-20, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By leaf cuttings.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 days at temperatures of 20°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About seven weeks at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white to orange brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading             and mounded plant habit; overall plant shape roughly             globular.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; suitable for 12-cm and larger containers; under             optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about             ten weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cm potted             plants from cuttings.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit, about twelve             basal branches develop per plant; dense and bushy habit.         -   Plant height.—About 22.8 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 42.2 cm.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length: About             15.9 cm. Width: About 10.2 cm. Shape: Unequal ovate to             unequal broadly ovate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base:             Oblique. Margin: Biserrate, laciniate; undulate. Texture,             upper surface: Rugose, sparsely pubescent; velvety. Texture,             lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along veins. Luster, upper             surface: Glossy. Luster, lower surface: Slightly glossy.             Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Darker than between 139A and 147A; random and             numerous spots and speckles, close to 196D and 198D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N186C tinged with             close to N200C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker             than close to 147A; random and numerous spots and speckles,             between 198D and 200D; venation, close to 148A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N186C tinged with             between 148C and 194B; venation, close to 187A to 187B.             Petioles: Length: About 11.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Between N186C and 187A.             Lenticels: Present on petioles. Length: About 4 mm. Width:             About 0.3 mm. Color: Close to 182D. Stipules: One present at             the base of the leaf. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Ovate with acute to mucronulate apex and             cuneate base. Color: Between 45C and 46C. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on     plants of the new Begonia. The new Begonia was selected on the basis     of its unique foliage characteristics and its lack of flowers. -   Postproduction longevity: Plants of the new Begonia have excellent     postproduction longevity and have been observed to last at least six     weeks under interior environmental conditions. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRBELYF02’ as illustrated and described. 